Morris Island, South Carolina was the home of Battery Wagner, the confederate fortification that guarded the entrance to Charleston harbor. From artillery batteries on Folly Island and later lower Morris Island, the federal troops, (July - August 1863), shelled Fort Wagner and deployed troops to capture the fort. After two failled attemps to capture the it by assult, in early August seige operation began. Wagner was never captured by force but was evacuated by Confederate defenders on the noght of September 7th. With this fortified position now in federal hands US troops were now in position to shell Fort Sumter. The troops moved their artillery from Folly to the occupied position, and renamed it Battery Meade.

The shelling began on August 17th, 1863, and quickly reduced Fort Sumter to rubble, but it was unable to force a confederate surrender. Folly Island, and Morris Island remained occupied by federal troops until the end of the war.